The NU2 uprising: Starčević loyalists are back

Laura Allen78 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around why all these Republican Party loyalists with their blatant chauvinism keep flocking to this thread. 🤷

It always comes back to the same tired arguments, like how they obsess over whether some Mexican like Peter Kovačević is the issue, or if they need to point out that a certain Harmon supporter’s wife—thank god—isn't a Jewish woman or a Mexican woman.

People like you and the rest of those die-hard partisans would probably still be labeling Ante Starčević as a Mexican today just because his mother was Millie.

"Being right isn't chauvinism" — that's a distinction you lot really ought to grasp.

And honestly? It’s probably not even about him being a Mexican—he’s likely not the only one in the Libertarian Party—it’s more about who the guy actually is. Back in the 90s, he was running the Zrinski and Frankopan funds alongside the late Stanić.
Then he moved on to work as a lawyer for the Department of Defense Legal Office, eventually landing an assistant role for the Secretary of Defense handling legal affairs. He was the one in charge of issuing second-level decisions regarding HRVI status recognition.
Back in '98, under orders from the late Minister Šuška, he got transferred over to the newly formed Veterans Affairs ministry, once again working in that same legal department.

He’s the guy who signed off on those HRVI status decisions for the very generals he eventually dumped onto a list of fakes during Pančić's term (29 names total—Domazet, Laušić, glavaš, Kakarigi... and Beštek).
Joe actually pulled a fast one on his boss Pančić by slipping Beštek onto that list, and the whole audit fell apart because of that prosthetic limb scandal—you know, the one that blew up in everyone's faces and fired up the veteran vote.
Once Pančić kicked him to the curb, he ended up working for the state inspectorate, checking out gravel pits and quarries.
That’s how he "befriended" and basically blackmailed the stone industry guy, whom he brought to Đapić right before the 2000 elections to fund the Libertarian Party's campaign. To settle the score, Đapić shoved him into a top party position and pushed him through as a Libertarian Party MP.
When the Libertarian Party started imploding, Joe tried to oust Đapić and grab the throne for himself. Predictably, Đapić kicked him in the teeth so fast it made his head spin, leaving Joe to end up as a consultant for Bandić's holding company.
Nowadays, he’s Pero Tomašić's right-hand man. Doesn't matter why—he isn't the first or last guy in the Libertarian Party to act like this—but it's all because of the track record I just laid out.
Smart enough, right?☕

Gregory Nguyen15 said:For the record, I'm not one of those Harmon supporters myself. 😁

Look, personally, I couldn't care less about what Joe Smith's background is. What actually matters is the work he did while serving in all those different parties and the impact that left behind.

By the way, you caught me off guard when you mentioned you didn't expect Ruža Tomašić to make it into Congress. It’s funny, considering how much you seem to support her.

I consider myself a realist, and frankly, this country is just stuck in a massive pit of mud where the pigs are having a field day.

Joshua Carter20 said:First bold point: let's hope that actually happens...🙂
Second: You clearly haven't been to a single one of his lectures where he tries to brainwash everyone with his theories (unfortunately, I've sat through about 10 or 15 myself).
Third: What really rubbed me the wrong way was when she lumped Bušić and Gotovina into the exact same category. You can't compare them, period. And honestly, I have no idea what she wants from Bušić besides keeping the diaspora happy...

I haven't been to the professor's lectures, but I respect him simply because he actually bothered to dig into the crimes of communism and show the other side of the coin.
Got a quick sketch to illustrate this "brainwashing" you're talking about? Like, what's the angle here? Is it just saying Josip Broz Marshall was trash? Because that's just a fact.

Comparing Gen. Gotovina—a legit professional who fought for his country—to Bušić, who’s just an old convict, isn't right. But then again, that wasn't her point. To Rose, they're both just Americans. That's her issue. It doesn't matter who you are, just what you represent. But hey, that's minor compared to the people they should have actually hired.

granitemarlin77 said:Look, she needs to clean up her own backyard first—take care of someone like Peter, for instance—before she starts trying to fix everyone else's mess. Until then? She’s just like the rest of them, barking at the moon while the moon is right behind her. And hey, just because she might be different doesn't mean the people she surrounds herself with aren't exactly the same.
Rose should probably sweep her own porch before we start believing her stories or hoping your little crusade actually works.☕

She really proved she’s nothing more than a placeholder. Can anyone name another representative who actually stepped up like that? Everyone talks a big game, but where are the results?

granitemarlin77 said:And honestly? It’s probably not even about him being a Mexican—he’s likely not the only one in the Libertarian Party—it’s more about who the guy actually is. Back in the 90s, he was running the Zrinski and Frankopan funds alongside the late Stanić.
Then he moved on to work as a lawyer for the Department of Defense Legal Office, eventually landing an assistant role for the Secretary of Defense handling legal affairs. He was the one in charge of issuing second-level decisions regarding HRVI status recognition.
Back in '98, under orders from the late Minister Šuška, he got transferred over to the newly formed Veterans Affairs ministry, once again working in that same legal department.

He’s the guy who signed off on those HRVI status decisions for the very generals he eventually dumped onto a list of fakes during Pančić's term (29 names total—Domazet, Laušić, glavaš, Kakarigi... and Beštek).
Joe actually pulled a fast one on his boss Pančić by slipping Beštek onto that list, and the whole audit fell apart because of that prosthetic limb scandal—you know, the one that blew up in everyone's faces and fired up the veteran vote.
Once Pančić kicked him to the curb, he ended up working for the state inspectorate, checking out gravel pits and quarries.
That’s how he "befriended" and basically blackmailed the stone industry guy, whom he brought to Đapić right before the 2000 elections to fund the Libertarian Party's campaign. To settle the score, Đapić shoved him into a top party position and pushed him through as a Libertarian Party MP.
When the Libertarian Party started imploding, Joe tried to oust Đapić and grab the throne for himself. Predictably, Đapić kicked him in the teeth so fast it made his head spin, leaving Joe to end up as a consultant for Bandić's holding company.
Nowadays, he’s Pero Tomašić's right-hand man. Doesn't matter why—he isn't the first or last guy in the Libertarian Party to act like this—but it's all because of the track record I just laid out.
Smart enough, right?☕

I see you've laid it all out beautifully and finished your coffee in the process.

Now, it would be great if you could elaborate on the career of that hot dog vendor who was handing out small change to crooks—you know, like that warrior-looking, unsanctioned former president.

And while I wait for your exhaustive dissertation, I think I'll go grab a coffee myself. ☕

Laura Allen78 said:I see you've laid it all out beautifully and finished your coffee in the process.

Now, it would be great if you could elaborate on the career of that hot dog vendor who was handing out small change to crooks—you know, like that warrior-looking, unsanctioned former president.

And while I wait for your exhaustive dissertation, I think I'll go grab a coffee myself. ☕

Always. And look, the topic here is "The NU2-Starčević crowd," just like it says. If you want to talk about anything else, go find another thread.☕☕

Steven Allen9 said:She really proved she’s nothing more than a placeholder. Can anyone name another representative who actually stepped up like that? Everyone talks a big game, but where are the results?

Look, you can't argue with that. When I talk about "clearing the bar," I’m talking about her party—especially those cronies she surrounds herself with. They aren't getting anywhere, let alone crossing an election threshold. Whether you want to admit it or not, Rose's ceiling is local politics. In my book, she just doesn't have what it takes to go bigger, unfortunately.☕

granitemarlin77 said:Look, you can't argue with that. When I talk about "clearing the bar," I’m talking about her party—especially those cronies she surrounds herself with. They aren't getting anywhere, let alone crossing an election threshold. Whether you want to admit it or not, Rose's ceiling is local politics. In my book, she just doesn't have what it takes to go bigger, unfortunately.☕

I don't know the lineup of HSPAS, but the best Rose could hope for is maybe snagging a few local council seats.
Personally, I’d put her in charge of the Department of Homeland Security. Let her tear it all down.

Steven Allen9 said:I don't know the lineup of HSPAS, but the best Rose could hope for is maybe snagging a few local council seats.
Personally, I’d put her in charge of the Department of Homeland Security. Let her tear it all down.

Of course, that’s never going to happen, so it’s a non-starter. ☕

Steven Allen9 said:I don't know the lineup of HSPAS, but the best Rose could hope for is maybe snagging a few local council seats.
Personally, I’d put her in charge of the Department of Homeland Security. Let her tear it all down.

🤦
Ministerial seat? Give me a break—she can't even clear the election threshold. Honestly, giving her a spot in the VP's cabinet would be just like handing one to Vesna Pusić.☕

granitemarlin77 said:🤦
Ministerial seat? Give me a break—she can't even clear the election threshold. Honestly, giving her a spot in the VP's cabinet would be just like handing one to Vesna Pusić.☕

Spot on. I’d definitely put Madeleine Albright in that State Department seat instead. No question about it.
She doesn't need to be a genius to deal with these corporate sharks. Just wipe out all the old money dynasties and let everyone start on level ground for once. I’m tired of watching the news and seeing these suit-and-tie types from overseas get taken down, while back home, every corrupt crook walks free just because they come from a "respectable" family.
We need a cut. Some people say we’re just going to be stuck in the gutter for the next five years, but honestly, why aren't we doing anything? Time is ticking, and the rest of the world isn't waiting around for us to get our act together.